Background The dramatic increase in the use of cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIED) was associated with an increased rate of CIED infection, which has a high management cost. Aim of the Study To test the safety and efficacy of a single‐session protocol, aiming to reuse the infected pocket side and the same device and leads in patients with CIED pocket infection. Patients and Methods We included patients with isolated pocket infection between January 2015 and November 2019. The Patient was prepared by taking a swab for culture and sensitivity before the procedure. The pocket was debrided and the capsule was removed, the pocket was rinsed with povidone‐iodine and hydrogen peroxide mixture, then packed with gauze sponge soaked with povidone‐iodine. The device was debrided using ultrasonic irrigation and sterilized using gas plasma. The device was reimplanted and the wound was closed in layers. Results During the period of the study, we had 12 patients with isolated pocket infection. Nine presented with erosion, two with impending erosion, and one with a chronic sinus. Patient's age was 61.5 ± 7.64 years. The infection was diagnosed 14.2 ± 8.22 weeks post device implantation. They were admitted for 7.6 ± 1.54 days postprocedure. The follow‐up duration was 26.5 ± 15 (1.7–52) months. Only one patient (8%) had a recurrence of the infection after 50 days of the procedure. Conclusion Our protocol was successful in treating 92% of device‐related pocket infection without the need to replace the device or the pocket side.

Background: Most diabetic patients have silent ischemia and cardiac dysfunction that is usually observed in the late phase of the disease when it becomes clinically obvious. We hypothesized that left ventricular dyssynchrony (LVdys) (or dispersion) is an early marker of myocardial involvement in asymptomatic early type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. Therefore, we aimed to detect early markers of myocardial dysfunction in early T2DM using LVdys and left ventricular mechanical reserve (LVMR). Methods: We examined 91 consecutive subjects with early T2DM with speckle tracking imaging to evaluate LVdys and with dobutamine stress to evaluate LVMR (defined as left ventricular mechanical reserve global longitudinal strain [LVMR GLS ] ≥2%). Our patients were divided into two groups according to LVdys: group 1 with LVdys (n = 49), and group 2 without LVdys (n = 42). Results: We found that 49 (54%) subjects in our cohort had resting LVdys (standard deviation of tissue synchronization of the 12 left ventricular segments [Ts-SD-12] ≥34.2 ms). GLS and strain rate were comparable at rest between patients with and without LVdys. On the other hand, LVMR was blunted in those with LVdys (p < 0.001). We found that HbA1c, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and left atrial volume index were inversely correlated with LVMR. Multivariate analysis showed that LVdys was the strongest predictor (p < 0.001) of blunted LVMR. Using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, we found that a Ts-SD-12 ≥36.5 ms was the best cutoff value to predict blunted LVMR (area under the curve = 0.89, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The LVdys (Ts-SD-12) cutoff ≥36.5 ms was the optimal value for prediction of impaired LVMR and might be an early marker of subclinical cardiac dysfunction and risk stratification of subjects with asymptomatic early T2DM with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction.

Background Our aim was to assess safety and efficacy outcomes at 1 year after MitraClip for percutaneous mitral valve repair in patients with severe mitral regurgitation. Twenty consecutive patients with significant MR (GIII or GIV) were selected according to the AHA/ACC guidelines from June 2016 to June 2019 and underwent percutaneous edge-to-edge mitral valve repair using MitraClip with a whole 1 year follow-up following the procedure. The primary acute safety endpoint was a 30-day freedom from any of the major adverse events (MAEs) or rehospitalization for heart failure. The primary efficacy endpoint was acute procedural success defined as clip implant with an improvement of MR to ≤ grade II, based on current guidelines, NYHA class, ejection fraction, and the left atrium size during follow-up. Results Mean age of the studied population was 66.8 ± 10 years and about 85% were males. All patients presented with NYHA > 2. EuroSCORE ranged between 7 and 15. Patients varied regarding their HAS-BLED score. None of them experienced MAEs at 30 days. Patients showed significant improvement of NHYA functional class, and all echocardiographic measurements such as left ventricular end systolic diameter, left ventricular end diastolic diameter, left ventricular ejection fraction, left atrium volume index and MR grade. They also showed significant improvement of right-side heart failure manifestations (lower limb edema, S3 gallop, neck veins congestion), and laboratory value (the mean Hb levels significantly increased from 11.96 ± 1.57 to 12.97 ± 1.36, while the median CRP significantly decreased from 7 (3-9) to 2 (1-3). As well, the median Pro-BNP significantly decreased from 89.5 (73-380) to 66.5 (53.5-151) following MV clipping. During the whole follow-up period, there was dramatic improvement in the NHYA functional class, echocardiographic assessment including left ventricular ejection fraction, and mitral regurge grade. During follow-up, four patients (20%) developed complications. There was no statistical difference between patients who developed complications and those who did not regarding their age (75.25 ± 12.42 versus 64.63 ± 9.21, respectively), BSA (1.69 ± 0.11 versus 1.79 ± 0.22, respectively), gender (75% versus 87.5% males respectively), MR etiology (75% versus 50% ischemic, 25% versus 50% non-ischemic), or NYHA pre- or post-mitral clipping. However, the median EuroSCORE was significantly higher in the complicated group (13, IQR= 11.5-14.5) than the non-complicated group (9.5, IQR=8.5-11.5). Conclusion Percutaneous usage of MitraClip for mitral valve repair showed favorable reliability and better clinical outcomes. Trial registration ZU-IRB#2481-17-2-2016 Registered 17 February 2016, email: IRB_123@medicine.zu.edu.eg

Background: Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) would be used to evaluate right ventricular (RV) function in patients with arterial hypertension, and the link between RV dysfunction and exercise capacity was studied in the study population.Objective: To establish a correlation with exercise capability in the study group by using transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) to evaluate RV function in patients with arterial hypertension. Patients and Methods: Patients with hypertension were surveyed in a cross-sectional research; those known and treated; whether controlled or not and patients who were recently discovered to be hypertensive. Ninety patients were included; gender and age were taken into account. A thorough examination was performed on each patient (TTE) as well as six minute walking distance (6MWD). For all we had a written informed consent prior to enrollment. Results: Patients with untreated and uncontrolled hypertension showed significantly reduced right ventricular systolic and diastolic functions compared to those with well-controlled hypertension. Patients with untreated or uncontrolled hypertension had significant (P <0.001) deterioration on S', wave and diastolic dysfunction parameters (E/A, DTt, E/e t and IVRT). Untreated and uncontrolled hypertension patients showed a significant decrease in 6MWD compared to the well-controlled individuals (P <0.001). Conclusion: Untreated or ineffectively treated hypertension individuals had considerably reduced right ventricular function and exercise capacity, according to our findings. In the entire research population, right ventricular functions are strongly linked to exercise ability.